About this property

Located in the beautiful department of Morbihan in southern Brittany, Couetilliec is an exclusive hamlet of 5 charming C17th and C18th stone cottages set in 30 acres of private woodland, lawns, meadow, stream and a large heated swimming pool (11.5m X 5m X2m max. depth). The pool is open from May to September inclusive. The cottage also has free Wi-Fi.

Discounts available for 2 or more weeks! We also offer our guests a 20% saving on Brittany Ferries channel crossings and discounts with Brittany Cycle Tours, which is based on site for your enjoyment.

Oak Cottage is perfect for families; you will find lots to do in the heated swimming pool, sweeping lawns, woodland or just enjoy the peace and tranquillity. Everyone can relax and play in safety as Couetilliec is at the end of a country lane with no passing traffic and absolutely no road noise. With Brittany Cycle Tours based on site for your enjoyment Couetilliec Cottages and the local area offer a range of family activities – see our website for further info – link at foot of this listing.

Oak Cottage is a spacious and beautiful 18th century 3 bedroom stone cottage with an open-plan tiled ground floor. The interior has been completely refurbished to a high standard in 2015. Oak Cottage has a feature pierre apparente fireplace, log burning stove, solid Oak kited staircase leading to a semi-galleried landing, the entire first floor has solid chestnut flooring with exposed original "A" frames throughout. . With a ground floor of circa 50m2 Oak Cottage has plenty of space for all your family. Lawns to the front of the cottage with views to the woodland beyond. BBQ and quality teak garden furniture to enjoy a lazy lunch or dinner al fresco. The cottage has free WiFi (suitable for web browsing).

Type

Cottage/Gite

Kitchen and dining

New fully fitted kitchen in 2015, with electric oven, gas hob, extractor, microwave, fridge, freezer, washing machine and dishwasher, Solid Oak worktops and subway tiling to all splash back areas. Dining area with dresser, table and chairs to seat 6: all furniture is solid oak. Window with views across the front lawn to the woodland beyond.

Living rooms

The lounge has 2 large sofas, feature granite fireplace, wood burning stove, English free-to-air satellite tv, French terrestrial tv, 42" smart LCD tv, dvd, coffee-table and a bookcase filled with a selection of books and board games. Window with views across the gravel driveway to Hazel Cottage beyond.

Bedrooms

The bedrooms: a double, a twin and a single with solid pine furniture throughout. All bedrooms have solid chestnut flooring and exposed "A" frames.The master bedroom has 2 windows, one facing south with views across the lawns to the woodland beyond and another facing north to the rear of the property. Double bed, wardrobe, chest of drawers and two bedside tables. You can also request a cot in the room. The second bedroom is a triple with a set of bunk beds and a single bed, chests of drawers, bedside cabinets and a wardrobe. This bedroom has a south facing window with views across the lawns and woodland beyond. The third bedroom is a single with chest of drawers, bedside cabinet, wardrobe and single bed, a south facing juliet style window with views across the lawns to the woodland beyond. All bedrooms have electric wall mounted heaters.

Bathrooms

The spacious family bathroom has a P-shaped shower bath with mixer shower over, shower screen, hand basin, toilet, extractor, heated towel rail and electric heater. With tiling to all splash back areas and 3 north facing windows with views the rear of the property. The bathroom has solid chestnut flooring and an exposed "A" frame.

Heating

The lounge is fitted with an inset woodburner, the bedrooms and bathroom have wall mounted electric heaters. Electric heating is for winter lets only. For winter lets logs are available, payable on site.

Entertainment

Free to air English satellite tv, French terrestrial tv, 42" LCD tv, dvd player. Well stocked bookcase and a selection of board games. Shared heated pool - open May to September inclusive. The children have a swing and slide activity apparatus or they can play in the woods, letting their imagination run wild and there are plenty of den making opportunities. Each cottage has its own BBQ and BBQ's with fellow guests are always popular.

Close to fishing, golf, horse riding, wonderful medieval towns, beaches and many other attractions, Couetilliec offers a wide range of activities for everyone to enjoy!

Garden and outside

A shared heated pool with Roman steps for ease of entry - open May to September inclusive. There are sweeping expanses of lawn surrounding Couetilliec: plenty of room for bbqs, football, etc. The swimming pool is also flanked by a large lawns with woodland beyond. The woodland has many tracks to explore with a huge meadow and a stream running along the bottom of the property. With 30 acres of private grounds to explore you can spend days in the grounds especially if you like nature, photography and art. With zero light pollution stargazing comes naturally.

Parking and garages

Extensive parking to the front of Oak Cottage with additional parking to the rear of Couetilliec if required. We asks families travelling in more than one car to leave additional vehicles parked in the designated parking area behind the cottages.

Visitor suitability

Oak Cottage is child friendly. Plastic plates and beakers, stairsgates, highchair and cot are available upon request.

This property is not suitable for wheelchair users.

Information about any additional facilities

This is a great place if you like an abundance of fauna and flora. We have seen deer, badgers, red squirrels, pine martin, foxes, buzzards, owls and woodpeckers. There are many ancient pollarded trees most are smothered in an array of mosses, lichens and ferns. With zero light pollution it's also a great place for a spot of stargazing. If you are a keen photographer and/or an artist the opportunities are endless. With Brittany Cycle Tours based on site Couetilliec and the surrounding area offer many attractions for your family.

Mountain biking

Sports

Walking

Watersports

Wine tasting

Wine tasting and cookery

About the Owner, Mr Carl Foster

Carl and Belinda, the owners, live on site maintaining the swimming pool & grounds. They are available when you need them and invisible when you don't. Carl's previous career focused on woodland management and forest research. Carl has a keen interest in green woodworking, traditional woodland crafts, forest gardening, sustainable woodland management, Oak timber-framed buildings, permaculture and exploring Brittany by bicycle.

Year property purchased

2012

Why this location?

We simply adore the rolling Morbihan countryside, its beautiful meandering rivers set in verdant valleys and its glorious coastline with the right blend of long sandy beaches, rocky outcrops, beautiful estuaries and quaint harbours.The gastronomic delights of Brittany are on your doorstep: crepes, galetts, beurre moule, cidre, beer (the wine's not bad either) and an abundance of fresh fish and shellfish. Boulangeries with their array of breads and mouthwatering patisseries. As well as the sense of space, peace and tranquillity all make for a more relaxed way of life.Brittany offers hours of the kind of cycling almost impossible to find in the UK, so we are developing a good quality and affordable single centre self-guided cycle touring service that enables clients to explore and experience the rich diversity of Brittany's stunning countryside, medieval towns and coastline: we offer our guests a 25% discount with Brittany Cycle Tours which is based on site for your enjoyment.

Unique benefits of property

Couetilliec Cottages are perfect for families; you will find lots to see and do at the many local attractions or sit back and enjoy the peace and tranquillity in extensive lawns, woodland and meadow, and take a relaxing dip in the heated swimming pool. Couetilliec is at the end of a country lane with no passing traffic and absolutely no road noise so everybody can relax and play in safety. Each cottage has quality teak garden furniture and bbq: ideal for a spot of al fresco dining.Couetilliec Cottages are a great place if you like an abundance of fauna and flora. We have seen deer, pine martins, red squirrels, badgers, foxes, buzzards, owls and woodpeckers. There are many ancient pollarded trees most are smothered in an array of mosses, lichens and ferns. With zero light pollution it's also a great place for a spot of star gazing. If you are keen photographer and or artist the opportunities are endless. Those who enjoy cycling please check out our Brittany Cycle Tours website.

The Owner Recommends

Food and Drink

You really are spoilt for choice but an excellent value meal (£10 including 3 courses and wine!) can be enjoyed at the Chez Marie-The in Ploerdut. For a fine dining experience in a stunning setting try the L'auberge de Pont Calleck. If you like cider the local cidreries are a must. As mentioned above fresh supplies can be found at the local markets or the local supermarket. There are also restaurants, a convenience store and a boulangerie at Inguiniel just 2.5 miles away.

Relax or play anywhere in the grounds, there's more than enough space for everyone. Anybody with a keen interest in nature and or photography can spend days relaxing, listening and watching. Having a bbq with your neighbours is a great way to meet new people. With zero light pollution and a clear sky stargazing is a must.

Horse Riding

There are many equestrian centres in the Morbihan. It is an ideal place for horse riding and trekking. The equivalent of the National Stud is based at Hennebont. The Parc Aquanature near Priziac, west of Pontivy. Where there are 15 kilometres of footpaths, a deer park, freshwater aquarium, accompanied horse rides and guided tours.

The Nantes-Brest Canal, Lac de Guerledan and River Blavet

These waterways and their surroundings offer lots of opportunities from watersports at Lac de Guerledan, to cycling or walking along the miles of towpaths. Excellent coarse fishing can be found on the river Blavet - there will be many personal recommendations...

The South Coast of Morbihan

Explore the South coast: Lorient and it's beaches are half an hours drive. Le Poldu is a lot quieter and has stunning scenery, there's mile after mile of sandy beaches and coves to explore. Our favourites include St Cado, Le Poludu, Doelan, Guidel Plage and Fort Bloque.

Visiting Medieval Towns and Cities

Vannes, Hennebont, Potivy and even our local town of Guemene sur Scorff are still partially walled. The finest example is Vannes with its 13th century ramparts from which you get a fine view of the old town and gardens.

Traditional French Markets

There are a plethora to choose from but Hennebont is the largest, Vannes and Potivy also have large markets but the local markets of Guemene sur Scorff and Bubry are also interesting to stroll around.

3 Reviews

10/10

Cleanliness: 10

Comfort: 10

Condition: 10

Facilities: 10

Local Amenities: 9.3

Setting: 10

Value for Money: 10

10 / 10Gillian1724 May, 2017

We had a lovely stay at the beginning of May, in this delightful cottage that had been so well restored and furnished by Carl and Belinda. Superb kitchen, with loads of Denby pottery, glasses etc and even a dishwasher to deal with them! Washing machine as well, excellent cooker and microwave.The sitting room was very comfortable with large sofas, furry throws, and a flat screen, British programme TV and DVD player. The bedrooms had comfortable beds and very many chests and wardrobes. Bathroom very well thought out. The whole cottage had only been finished two years ago, so everything was in very good condition.

The lawns outside were lovely, stretching to the stunning 30 acre woodland. Beautiful short walks in the woods and the additional treat of taking suitable leftovers to Choupette, the large white pig, and the chickens.

Lovely heated swimming pool, beautifully maintained and the pleasure of the family's two dogs and two cats, who were definitely instructed to stay outside, be friendly but not go beyond the threshhold.

Don't miss the greedy delight of a morning trips to the boulangerie in the next village, an artisan baker and products hard to resist.

Trips out were very enjoyable, with the so beautiful Auray a highspot.

We enjoyed our stay very much, Carl and Belinda were such good hosts, kindness itself, and we so much appreciated the generous welcome basket on arrival.

10 / 10sueplikington11 May, 2017

We have stayed in a number of gites in France and whilst charm goes a long way most of them have really uncomfortable chairs/sofas/difficult kitchens/bathrooms etc. and we get fed up of balancing on rickety rattan chairs! Not here - there are 2 fabulously large sofas, 6 comfy dining chairs so you can stay and play games around the table, lovely bathroom with a view from the shower of the treetops through the velux and a lovely kitchen with everything you could wish for (fridge, freezer, cooker, gas hob, microwave, dishwasher, washing machine). Beautifully done as well. Even the outside furniture was solid and comfortable. Our boys (19 and 22) were in heaven with the UK TV!

Carl and Belinda were really helpful with our booking and at the cottage there is a useful folder of things to do including hiring bikes from them. A perfect place for lazing round the pool or getting out and about walking/cycling etc. Plenty of room for kids of all ages to run around and burn off some energy.

The complex is a couple of miles outside the nearest town so a car is necessary but easy to go out for the day and come back for a bbq. We enjoyed an evening stroll in the woods meeting the pig and chickens (we were too early in the season for an evening dip in the pool but that would be great!). Bakers in lots of nearby villages. The Intermarche at Guemene -sur-Scorff sells petrol and the supermarket at Cleguerec is open Sunday mornings.

10 / 10SarahB19 August, 2016

We stayed in Oak Cottage in July/August 2016 with children of 9&7.
The gîte is beautifully renovated and well furnished - even better than described - modern, bright, fresh with a new kitchen & bathroom. It was great to have our own washing machine & dishwasher & DVD player as well as access to UK TV. We particularly liked the oak staircase which is like a xylophone to run up & down!
Each gîte has its own outdoor dining & barbecue area in the vast garden surrounded by trees and tranquillity. Carl keeps a friendly pig in the forest who the kids loved delivering the leftovers to and there are chickens (fresh eggs), 2 cats & a well behaved dog. For smaller children the climbing frame is ideal & the bigger ones can roam the woods and garden for a bit of adventure. The heated pool is well maintained & deep enough for somersaults. Carl provides a generous hamper of fresh produce & wine to get you started and the nearest shop is a couple of miles up the road. There is a gem of a restaurant hidden in the forest a few miles away (Auberge du Pont Calleck)
Carl has several new mountain bikes to rent (all ages available by arrangement, kids seats & wagon) and has excellent local knowledge.
There are many beautiful places to explore within an hour's drive in all directions, though Couetilliec is so comfortable you might not want to leave!